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Mom, on the other hand, is all smiles and giggles, rushing to hug us. I step between her and Kellan as if out of instinct. “Don’t,” I tell her. “Broken ribs, remember?”
“Right, right,” she sighs and stands back, hands fumbling through her coat pockets. “How are you two doing? Kellan, shouldn’t you be in bed, still resting, honey?”
“Since when do you care?” I shoot back.
“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” Dad interjects, joining the conversation as Peter, their stable hand, gingerly guides both of their horses back to the stables.
The evenings are still cold, particularly out here in the open field. But the smell of spring is in the air thanks to the blooming cherryand magnolia trees that line the road from the front gates of the property to the ranch house. Slowly but surely, life is coming back to the land. I just don’t like what it’s bringing along with it.
“We need to talk,” Kellan says, his tone stern and heavy as he leans against his car.
Mom looks at him, then at me before she whips up a pleasant smile. “Sure thing. Come inside. We’ll make you some tea.”
“We’d rather stay out here,” Kellan replies.
She was expecting him to be the amiable and compliant one, and she’s giving me the stink eye, thinking I’ve finally rubbed off on Kellan. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my parents face-to-face. I only wish it were under better circumstances, but those better circumstances never happened, nor will they. It took me longer than it took Kellan to truly accept who the Cassidy’s are, what they’re about, and what they are capable of, including toward their own sons. No one is safe if Mom and Dad are determined to protect their fortune and web of deception they’ve weaved.
Corruption has been running in our family for so many generations, and my brother and I really are the odd ones out. We’re considered the black sheep because we turned tail as soon as we were eighteen. Dad had expected us to take hold of our trust fund and join the Cassidy business. Instead, we went to military school, we joined the Navy, and when we came back, we teamed up with Luke and started Wolfhound Security. Kellan joined the police force and ended up replacing the old Sheriff which, in turn, has been causing heaps of trouble for our parents since they no longer have the same leeway in the eyes of the law.
Though they are weary of us, our mother continues to act as if we might suddenly change our minds and join the empireevery time we come to visit. Thus, the fake enthusiasm, hugs, and offers of tea. It's only a matter of time before the Feds gather enough evidence against them. Only a matter of time before Kellan and I end up seeing our parents in prison. Until then, however, we need to play our cards right. They can still be dangerous. They’re still well-connected and there are too many criminal figures across Lincoln County who benefit from their presence and ongoing so-called business activities.
“What’s this about?” Dad asks, defensively crossing his arms as he looks at Kellan. He can’t even stomach meeting my gaze.
“You know what this is about,” I say. “Something is going on, and you two are definitely connected to it.”
“Oh, my Lord, Bill, do you hear what our son is saying?” Mom gasps, bringing a hand up to her chest for an additional measure of drama.
“Somebody tried to kill me,” my brother replies. “And somebody attacked Fallon, too.”
They look at us with a mixture of outrage and disbelief. For a moment, I’m actually tempted to believe their reaction is genuine. “You?” Dad asks me. “Who got the drop on you, boy?”
“They didn’t get the drop on me,” I say. My ego still stings from that fucking mace spray. “I fought them off.”
“Did you see his face?” Dad replies.
“Are you okay, honey?” Mom asks, concern etched across her face.
A long time ago, I would’ve been easily softened by this expression of hers. But I’ve learned that she can be a convincingly good actress when she needs to be. In old age,they’ve both learned to really milk the most out of their “friendly neighborly pensioner” vibe, particularly in the eyes of the law.
“I’m okay. And so is Kellan. He had it way worse,” I say.
Kellan cuts in. “We’re here to ask you some questions because there are one too many coincidences already, and we need to clear the air.”
“Son, you can ask us whatever questions you want,” Dad replies, shaking his head slowly. “We’ve got nothing to hide.”
My brother chuckles dryly. “We all know that’s not true but okay, we’ll go with that. Let’s start with the simplest one. Have you had any contact with Charlene Maddox since she got out of prison and moved back to Hershey?”
Mom and Dad exchange curious glances.“No,” Mom declares. “Absolutely not. We know not to associate with criminal elements these days.”
If the situation weren’t so fucking serious, I’d be rolling on the ground at her response, laughing my ass off. But I keep my emotions to myself and watch my brother as he continues with his brief but surprisingly efficient interview.
“Alright. Have you heard from her at all? Has she tried reaching out to you?”
“No,” Mom says.
That’s a bald-faced lie. They’d be the first ones Charlene would call. Kellan just doesn’t have a warrant to scour through their communications—yet. He gives me a quick look, as if to quietly assure me that he knows they’re not being truthful, then continues his focus back on our parents.
“You would tell us if she does reach out, right?”
